BIBLE MATH

Good day dear friends.

For your local faithful readers of ConCafe/The University of The Way, we hope to begin cell groups at First UMC to use this as your weekly study material. Called LIFT Groups (Living In Fellowship Together), we will be inviting folks who have an interest in leading a cell group to come to an organizational meeting sometime soon. Please be in prayer for these cell groups. We have two leaders already: Karen Morris and Molly Moloney who will lead a university-age cell group in the fall!

Please be in prayer for the needs around the world; the space shuttle as it manuvers to dock with the International Space Station and for its return flight, may it reenter safely.

We continue to study compassion. I am very proud of our staff at FUMC; our staff meeting yesterday began with us making sack lunches to distribute among the needy in town. We made about 12 sack lunches and I believe all were distributed. Ask Lydia and Sherry to share their experiences with you.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Matthew 18:21-35 tells the story of forgiveness and compassion. Read it now to see what God expects of us. Where do you find yourself in that passage?

Here is that passage:

Matthew 21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, "Pay what you owe.' 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

This is one of my favorite Peter passages. I believe a lot of us see us in Peter. Peter always wanted to do right by Jesus, though, like us, found himself lacking or lovingly corrected by Jesus. The teaching of the people had been to forgive another three times. This was a good number. For those who had given their lives to studying the Law, it seemed like a good thing; it's very difficult to forgive someone once, a lot harder to forgive that same person a second time, and to go an extra time for a third time, almost impossible, but this was seen as the "right thing" to do. So, Peter may have taken that most difficult third time, doubled it and added one to impress the Lord. The Lord takes Peter by surprise by saying, "seventy-seven times." This is a number to illustrate we may lose count of the times we should forgive, if we're truly compassionate. And then Jesus proceeds to share a parable of the Kingdom with the story we know so well. A king settles accounts with a person who owed him ten thousand talents or let's say, as The Message versions says, "$100,000." Quite a sum. Forgiven. The option the king had in mind was to sell this man and his family to settle the debt. The forgiven person leaves the palace and runs into a man who owes him $10 and demanded payment immediately! The man asked for forgiveness and was thrown in jail instead. Word of this got back to the king and well, you know the rest of the story.

If God can forgive us time after time, why can't we forgive those who sin against us? Isn't this a part of the Lord's Prayer that most of us pray at least once a week? This is the point of Jesus' talk on forgiveness. The compassionate person seeks to be compassionate because s/he remembers the many times God has forgiven them. Let us do likewise. I love Bible math; we can lose count and still be right.

PRAYER: Compassionate God, thank you for the countless times You have been merciful to me. Let me today show that same compassion to others. Let me lose count in the times I have to forgive others. I pray in the name of He who taught me to pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy kindgom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we (should) forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

A DAY OF COMPASSION? WHY?!

Wednesday: For our day of purpose and action, do something compassionate for someone. I heard on Christian radio how the temperatures in Phoenix, AZ had not dropped below 110o and how 11 people, mostly homeless, have already died. The DJ said that people should carry bottled water in their cars and pray about finding those whose life you might save by giving them a drink of water. Perhaps pack a sack lunch to hand to someone you see on the corner who might be hungry. Put the mark of your discipleship to work!

LIVING A COMPASSIONATE LIFE

Good day dear friends.

Our prayers for the crew and all associated with the space shuttle Discovery set for launch today at 9:39 a.m. our time. Also, for the families of four scout leaders killed in North Carolina in an electrical accident as they set up their tents for a jamboree.

We continue our study on compassion with different illustrations from the Bible. Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Let us explore yet again, King David in his youth from 1 Samuel 24:4-22. Read how David had compassion for the man who was trying to kill him. Would you have done the same? What would have been your reaction to find your enemy sleeping?

Here is that passage in The Message version:

24:4 David's men whispered to him, "Can you believe it? This is the day God was talking about when he said, 'I'll put your enemy in your hands. You can do whatever you want with him.'" Quiet as a cat, David crept up and cut off a piece of Saul's royal robe. 5 Immediately, he felt guilty. 6 He said to his men, "God forbid that I should have done this to my master, God's anointed, that I should so much as raise a finger against him. He's God's anointed!" 7 David held his men in check with these words and wouldn't let them pounce on Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and went on down the road. 8 Then David stood at the mouth of the cave and called to Saul, "My master! My king!" Saul looked back. David fell to his knees and bowed in reverence. 9 He called out, "Why do you listen to those who say 'David is out to get you'? 10 This very day with your very own eyes you have seen that just now in the cave God put you in my hands. My men wanted me to kill you, but I wouldn't do it. I told them that I won't lift a finger against my master - he's God's anointed. 11 Oh, my father, look at this, look at this piece that I cut from your robe. I could have cut you - killed you! - but I didn't. Look at the evidence! I'm not against you. I'm no rebel. I haven't sinned against you, and yet you're hunting me down to kill me. 12 Let's decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine. 13 An old proverb says, 'Evil deeds come from evil people.' So be assured that my hand won't touch you. 14 "What does the king of Israel think he's doing? Who do you think you're chasing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 God is our judge. He'll decide who is right. Oh, that he would look down right now, decide right now - and set me free of you!" 16 When David had finished saying all this, Saul said, "Can this be the voice of my son David?" and he wept in loud sobs. 17 "You're the one in the right, not me," he continued. "You've heaped good on me; I've dumped evil on you. 18 And now you've done it again - treated me generously. God put me in your hands and you didn't kill me. 19 Why? When a man meets his enemy, does he send him down the road with a blessing? May God give you a bonus of blessings for what you've done for me today! 20 I know now beyond doubt that you will rule as king. The kingdom of Israel is already in your grasp! 21 Now promise me under God that you will not kill off my family or wipe my name off the books." 22 David promised Saul. Then Saul went home and David and his men went up to their wilderness refuge.

Imagine your luck if you happened to find the one trying to kill you, sound asleep? This is revenge or protection at its best. It is the stuff of great literature, edge of your seat movies, and the fuel of dreams. Yet, we find that David, whose life was in serious danger, being hunted by King Saul, when he finds the king sleeping, uses his sword to cut off a piece of the king's garment instead of his head! Even his closest advisors told David, "This is the day God intended; it's biblical!" But David knew better and even felt guilty that he had cut the garment off the king. He does use it to try to prove his point, that he meant Saul no harm; but it didn't convince Saul of anything. Saul went to his death wanting David to die before him.

Compassion is that which allows us to do what God wants us to do instead of our following our own desires. It may not involved our cutting someone's garment, but it may involve our saying a kind word in favor of someone we know takes every opportunity to criticize us. And not to later tell that person, "You know I had the perfect opportunity to say the truth about you, but instead I sought to make you look better and so I said something nice." We leave that to God. Showing compassion as we saw in the story of Jesus is never easy. It is easier, like the priest and the Levite knew, to walk across the street and go on without getting involved. Jesus meant to teach us to take the narrow way; the way most people do not take.

Let us seek today to show compassion and speak things that will make God look good, instead of ourselves.

PRAYER: Compassionate God, teach us the way of showing and living a compassionate life. Let our words, our thoughts and actions today speak that which brings life to others. Help us when we think we can 'get even' or 'ahead,' by showing us what we should do. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

GOD'S LAWS ABOUT COMPASSION

Good day dear friends.

We pray this morning for Kit and Leslie as they travel to be with family at the funeral of a great aunt. Pastor Leslie also stopped in to visit with Doris Kyle who is in the hospital in Austin. Doris suffered a heart attack and later this afternoon will have tests to determine what damage her heart may have suffered. Please keep Doris and the Pennington family in your prayers.

We studied yesterday what it meant to have compassion as one of our marks as a disciple. Compassion was defined as caring for someone enough to do something about it. Further explanations including compassion being love in action. Our 10:30 service equipped with the projector and slide saw photos of our junior high kids who just returned from a week at UMYIM (United Methodist Youth In Mission) a service project that this year was in nearby Gonzalez, Texas. Those photos showed how blessed we are to have kids in our midst and especially a group willing to show compassion to the less fortunate. Those who worshiped with us received their third bead, a purple one, to signify the King who showed us compassion.

Here is our study guide:

Monday: As we reflect on yesterday’s passage, compassion is that which we should exercise before God and God’s creation. Read Exodus 20:1-17. This passage is that which we know as The Ten Commandments, literally “The Ten Words” from God about how we should treat God and our neighbor. What message do you hear for your life as you read these 10 Commandments? Which one is lacking in your life?

20:1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.


Our text yesterday was the passage from Luke that tells us the story of The Good Samaritan. Just typing that I remembered the number of churches named El Buen Samaritano in my former conference, the Rio Grande Conference. Funny there wasn't any El Buen Judio United Methodist churches! Jesus' definition of neighbor in his story showed a man who shows compassion is one who isn't afraid to get involved. A compassionate person isn't afraid to get his/her hands dirty; or to spend his/her own money and use personal items in caring for another. We talked about how compassion is shown at all levels not just the "big picture, man left for dead by the side of the road" type illustrated by Jesus. Today's text shows the foundation for compassion as we study The Ten Commandments.

As much as they've been in the news lately and even ruled on by the Supreme Court, how many folks know these by heart or read them on a regular basis? More importantly, how many have hung these in their heart and live by them?

The first commandments remind us of what we heard yesterday: God loves us and showed us compassion first. In the garden when God could have easily destroyed the first couple and started over, did not. In the story of Noah, he spared humanity again. The commandments when shared with Moses came to a people in the wilderness who were shown God's compassion by pulling them out of slavery and suffering and taking them to a promised land where a better life was promised them.

Compassion in the commandments includes one for us to take at least one day off to rest and be renewed in God. There is one where we are told to show compassion towards our parents. There is one where we are told to show compassion even towards those we would love to kill. We are told to have compassion on our spouse by respecting and showing compassion to another married couple. If we take what is not ours, we have not shown compassion to the owner of that property. Even in our words and thoughts we are told to show compassion.

Which one is the weakest for you? What can you do about it? You can pray and ask the Lord to give you the strength to be the compassion disciple He has called you to be.

PRAYER: God of compassion, shower us with Your strength that we might be the disciples you've asked us to be. Let us walk with You in a way that reflects the love we have to be compassionate to those around us. Let compassion begin in our hearts towards You, towards ourselves, towards those around us, and towards our neighbor, all who are in need. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

TRUST AND OBEY

Good day dear friends.

This comes a bit late because I have a reunion group now on this morning and I had a hospital visit to make before heading to Austin for a commitment I had there.

News reports coming out of London say another "incident" has occurred with bombs hitting subway trains and another doubledecker bus. Please pray for an end to violence such as this.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Read 1 Samuel 3. Here is another great example of call and obedience. What is your understanding of this story? As you read the story, what would have been your response to God? Have you lost your childlike faith about the things of God? How can you recapture that?

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" F30 and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever." 15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." 17 Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." 19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

This is a wonderful story about God's call upon a young boy, the prophet Samuel. What is your understanding of this story? To me, it shows that age doesn't matter to God. We've seen old and young called by God throughout the pages of our Scripture. If a person is so disposed and willing to trust and obey God, God will use that person for whatever the plan may be. I believe God can also use us to help guide and mentor those of any age around us to help them better understand how they can serve God. I'm always amazed at the depth of understanding some of our children have about God and the things of God. It's as if God is pointing to those children and saying, "This one is already serving me!" And the ministerial side of me says, "There's a new recruit!" This morning one of the guys from our reunion group has missed church a couple of Sundays in a row and my ribbing him made me confess what he had been doing, but his little boy was the one who asked him, "Dad, aren't we going to church?" This is Jake, who earlier said to his dad about our church building, which is a magnificent structure, "That's just a building." Today I said to his dad, "Jake's my next bishop!"

Are we encouraging or discouraging children from serving God? I once heard a mom exclaim, "God forbid!" to a suggestion that her son could be a minister. What did that say to that young man? What do our actions say to the kids around us, ministry matters and God calls fine men and women to ministry; or do we say we don't care about our ministers and leave a bad taste in our kids' minds and hearts?

Samuel's story is one of trusting and obeying. His mom trusted and obeyed God and her heart. When she gave birth after thinking she would never conceive, she promised the Lord that her son would serve Him. She kept her word and God used the young man throughout his life and even beyond!

This story also says for us to trust the call of God on our lives. God speaks always to us but we must listen and obey.

Where is God calling you?

PRAYER: We thank you God for calling us to serve You. We ask that our actions and words would affirm all who serve You. May we seek to be faithful in encouraging all who might be called of You to serve. Let us trust and obey You, now and always. In Jesus' name. Amen

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

REMOVING OBSTACLES TO OBEDIENCE

Good day dear friends.

Let us continue to pray for those who may still be affected by Hurricane Emily.

And let us thank the Lord for expected and unexpected joys. Nellie and I are proud to announce that we will be grandparents for the first time in March! Our prayers for our daughter Sarai and our son-in-law Eric Cortez as they prepare to be parents!

Here is our study guide for today:

Wednesday: For our day of purpose and action, revisit the checklist of obstacles and blessings of obedience. What have you done lately for the Lord? What have you “passed” lately believing you weren’t ready? What can you do to reclaim that opportunity? Do you want to?

Here is that checklist from our Inside Tract (Sermon notes used during Sunday worship at First UMC-San Marcos):

Obstacles to obedience:
1. Ourselves
2. Our spouse (significant other)
3. Our children/dependents/siblings
4. Our time.

Blessings from Obedience:

1. Ourselves (A better perspective)
2. Our spouse/significant other (Deeper understanding)
3. Our children/dependents/siblings (Team spirit)
4. Our time (An appreciation for precious moments)

What have you done lately for the Lord?

What have you “passed” lately believing you weren’t ready?

What can you do to reclaim that opportunity?

Do you want to?

PRAYER: Merciful God as I pray this morning I pray for a deeper sense of obedience towards You and Yours. I pray that You would allow me to better understand who I am and who You want me to be. Let me better appreciate my spouse, my children, and to gain greater control of my time so that I could spend more time with You. I pray asking forgiveness for those times I have passed doing what You wanted hiding behind the excuse of my not being ready. I pray for new opportunities to serve. I pray in the name of He who strengthens me, Jesus my Lord. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

Here I Am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

Let us thank God for answered prayers. And let us continue to pray
for those who need God's blessing upon their lives. Let's pray
today for those who are having medical exams.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read Isaiah 6. This is a powerful story which inspired
one of our favorite hymns, "Here I Am, Lord." Read this story as if
YOU were Isaiah in the heavenly court. What would have been your
response towards the "invitation" to serve? Note that
transformation and preparation were needed. What needs to be
transformed and prepared in your life?

Here is that text (NRSV):

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a
throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2
Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two
they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and
with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: "Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his
glory." 4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those
who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said: "Woe is
me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a
people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of
hosts!" 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal
that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The
seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched
your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!" 9 And he
said, "Go and say to this people: "Keep listening, but do not
comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.' 10 Make the mind
of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so
that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears,
and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed." 11 Then I
said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: "Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is
utterly desolate; 12 until the Lord sends everyone far away, and
vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land. 13 Even if a tenth
part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an
oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled." The holy seed
is its stump.

The good thing about this passage is that it is in the first
person. If you read it aloud and pretend you're Isaiah, you're
halfway to understanding this vision of the Lord for Isaiah's life.
A very popular king had died and with him the hope for the nation's
return to greatness; in that state of mourning comes this vision to
this man who is suddenly in the presence of the heavenly courts and
with God himself. For Isaiah the sight of God's robe that filled
the temple is awesome, and then to see these angelic creatures
proclaiming God's holiness, is all what we should feel in worship.
God is holy, we're in need of God's blessing, and in God's presence
we declare the awesomeness of God. Isaiah declares, "Woe is me!" or
as The Message has him saying, "I'm as good as dead!" If we had
this type of vision we would believe we were dead, wouldn't we?

Yet, this vision was to call or invite Isaiah to do something, but
not until after an angel had touched a live coal to Isaiah's lips to
make him unclean and worthy of being in God's presence. God is
looking for someone to send, to go on God's behalf. Isaiah, now
feeling clean volunteers and says, "Here I am, send me!"

I pray that our weekly worship would indeed be settings like this
for God to be praised and glorified and for us to realize how much
we stand in need of being blessed; and for us to realize God's
invitation is daily. We're called each day, through prayer and
study to follow Christ and to share Christ with others. It
shouldn't take such a life-threatening or scary experience such as
this to make us realize how much God can use us to share His love in
this world. It simply takes our being willing to truly say, "Here I
am, send me." With faith, our yes is our approval to let God help
us in whatever it is that God has prepared for us. Green means go!

PRAYER: God of power and glory, here I am, send me. I go with the
fullness of faith that Your strength and grace are sufficient to see
me through whatever You would have me do this day. I pray in Jesus'
name. Amen.

Have a great and glorious day! Say yes to God.

Blessings,

e.v.

OBEDIENCE. OUR RESPONSIBILITY OR GOD'S?

Good day dear friends.

Let us remember those in the path of Hurricane Emily. May the Lord bless and protect them. We pray all may reach safety before the forces of this storm reach people.

Yesterday I shared sermon three of this series with Obedience being one of the Marks of a Disciple. We used two main texts, Matthew 21:28

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, “I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

and Daniel 1, the story of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and their obedience to God.

Our study guide will mention a text that I did not use in the sermon but will share it with you below. Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: Read the passages from Sunday again. In the version of The Lord’s Prayer, what is different in that version for you? What jumps out of your regarding our obedience? Have you ever thought about this prayer of Jesus as a prayer from us, reminding us of OUR obligations towards God? What do you think about this?

Matthew 6:9 Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. 10 Set the world right; Do what’s best - as above, so below. 11 Keep us alive with three square meals. 12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. 14 “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. 15 If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

Obedience is trusting and obeying. Obedience is written all over this prayer. Jesus shared it with His disciples and with us so that we might have the faith He had when it came to His heavenly Father. The words of the prayer may read as a form of expectations from God but in reality they're words of expectations of attitude and servitude from us. This prayer is the basis of an obedient life for a disciple of the Lord's. Is it God's responsibility or ours to reveal Who He is? When it comes to God's will being done on earth, what is our responsibility of obedience to that will? Do we expect God to become Meals on Wheels or should we remember to give thanks to God for the meals we eat, thanking God for jobs, careers, opportunities, etc. that has made our eating possible? Is it only God's role to be merciful, or do we share in that of showing mercy to others (HINT: Come next Sunday! It's our sermon topic!) And does God really lead US to temptation? I think most of us are pretty good at finding it; we should ask God to keep us from falling into it. As we enjoy this faith, shouldn't we be sharing it with others?

Tell somebody. It's one of our disciplines. Just share. Just open your mouth and tell someone how wonderful and awesome God truly is. Pray first and you'll be amazed at what God will do with that seed of faith you can plant in someone's soul just by saying, "God is good."

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be obedient. Let me truly understand what it means to trust You in such a way that I can bless others. Let me indeed do what I sang yesterday to "Trust and Obey." Amen.

Have a safe and blessed day!

e.v.

Graphic is of Abraham, whose life was a story of obedience before God!

YET ANOTHER DISCIPLINE

Good day dear friends.

We continue to walk with the Lord as we study more about this
particular mark called discipline.

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Read Luke 4:1-15. This is the story of Jesus' forty days
in the wilderness. As you read the story what do you suppose helped
him with the temptations He faced from Satan? Is fasting one of
your spiritual disciplines? Why or why not?

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was
led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was
tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and
when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, "If
you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of
bread." 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, "One does not live by
bread alone.' " 5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an
instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to
him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it
has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If
you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered
him, "It is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only
him.' " 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on
the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of
God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, "He will
command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' 11 and "On their
hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot
against a stone.' " 12 Jesus answered him, "It is said, "Do not put
the Lord your God to the test.' " 13 When the devil had finished
every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. 14 Then
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and
a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He
began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

The purpose of being in the wilderness for Jesus was to be alone
with God. And for this experience to be a powerful one Jesus
followed the discipiline of fasting. Fasting can be explained as
giving up physical food for spiritual food. Instead of relying on
pizza, one relies on prayer. This is the toughest of the
disciplines for so many and one must be careful in observing it.
The late Cesar Chavez was a man of fasting and was famous for the
forty day fasts he would lead while leading the cause of the United
Farm Workers. Yet, some would argue, this was precisely was led to
his death; his repeated long fasts took a toll on his body. As far
as we know this forty day fast of Jesus was the only time he fasted
for so long.

Jesus knew his ministry was going to be tough. And he was right for
it started right as he was finishing his fast. But he was ready
because of the prayer time he spent with his heavenly Father. The
time he spent being nourished spiritually, though he emerged weak
physically, strengthened Jesus' faith outlook and every one of
Satan's temptations was met head on.

Is fasting one of your spiritual disciplines? One need not fast for
forty days straight, in fact your doctor would probably not
recommend it; but one can give up one meal or if you have a routine
in place of sitting down for a soda, instead of that soda time,
spend it in reading scripture or praying. And share with God your
intention; fasting for some is a time of asking for answers. The
best thing is that you spend time with God and the blessings are
great.

PRAYER: God of all provision, we thank you for spiritual gifts that
nourish. Come and nourish us now as we seek to be known as Your
disciples. We praise you and love you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

FAITH JOURNEYS

Good day dear friends. Tomorrow morning our space program resumes. Given that the last flight was not successful, we should be in prayer for all who work in getting the flight up and going and then back down safely. Pray for the crew and their safe flight.

We continue our study of discipline as a mark of being Christ's disciple. Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read Acts 7:30. If you’re familiar with the story of Moses, this verse simply says something that does no justice to the day to day living experiences of forty (40) years in the wilderness that he endured to form God’s people into a spiritual nation. What disciplines do you suppose Moses’ possessed to help him with each day?

Here is that text (NRSV):
7:30 "Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush."

My mistake! This verse comes forty years after Moses' murdered an Egyptian and he believed he was never going to return to Egypt again. This particular verse is a reminder to the people of Israel of the start of a long journey of faith that led to Moses leading God's people into the wilderness. Yet, it is a good starting point. What disciplines must Moses have had while being a fugitive from justice? He still found favor in God's sight to be used by God to call his people to leave Egypt. And the whole journey of forty years into the desert was a walk of discipline. The entire journey was to form this band of runaway slaves into the people of God. It took forty years to form them and even then the journey was exactly how we act. One minute we're close to God obedient and loving towards God, the next we're off doing our thing or following after something else. Moses himself was not perfect. He was a murderer, a fugitive, a man of somewhat limited speech, a man given to despair, a man led astray from the true worship of God, yet he led the people right to where God needed them delivered. Sadly, we know "the rest of the story" and Moses himself only saw the promised land but did not cross into it. Yet, during Jesus' transfiguration the disciples present with the Lord said they saw Moses and Elijah.

A faith journey is never easy. No one has said it would be nor did anyone promise that to you. Precisely why we need the disciplines we mentioned Sunday. We need prayer. Prayer can be like the sips of water we take on a long hike. Imagine setting out in the cool of the morning to take an 8 hour hike. Imagine doing it without water. We would not make it in the same shape as we started. For one of my badges as a scout, my friend and I took a seven mile hike in the heat of a Kingsville summer. We mapped our route out of Kingsville, north on a farm to market road, close to the Celenese plant, we turned east and then we hit the main highway and hiked south to town again. Our best accessory was that canteen we had bought at the Army-Navy Surplus story on the same road on which we ended our hike.

Our journey needs a map. God provides the map in the form of The Bible. We journey better if we know where we are going. If we use scripture reading as one of our disciplines we'll know where we are going.

Our journey needs a time of rest and regrouping. That's what worship is. If we gather to worship God and not get sidetracked on any of the "streets" I mentioned on Sunday such as anger, disgust, frustration (Oh, with my luck I come to church on the very same Sunday as that person I can't stand, and she's sitting in MY pew!), we can't focus our worship on God.

Our journey requires a time to share. Giving is that discipline that allows us to return back to God all that God has shared with us. We tithe (or should be!), we give of our time, we give of ourselves.

Our journey requires sharing with others. Service is that discipline which allows us to give back to God's people. We don't have to go to Africa to do that. We can give of ourselves in many ways to needs all around us. Our journey is more complete is we get involved in a mission project that allows us to give more of ourselves.

Our journey is traveled better if we invite others. This is witnessing or sharing. It is our sharing with others what we've found in God. God is too good and too awesome to keep to ourselves. It is this invitation that makes the journey complete.

Will it take us forty years to complete? It may take longer! Our journey is not about measuring days. It is simply about enjoying each day, step by step. God is with us.

PRAYER: God of the awesome journey, journey with us now. Help us to be the disciples you've called us to be. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Have a great and awesome day filled with blessings!

e.v.

PS Don't forget this is also available at http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com

KEEP YOUR EYE ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

Good day dear friends. We continue to pray for those along the path of Hurricane Dennis. We pray for those affected by the terrorist attacks in London. We pray that peace indeed would come to the earth here and everywhere.

Yesterday we shared in sermon two of the series, "The Marks of a Dicsiple," with discipline being the topic. To truly grow in our walk with the Lord we must exercise a life of spiritual disciplines. Among those shared during the sermon: Prayer, scripture reading, worship, giving, service, and evangelism. Those are all part of a complete life of walking with the Lord.

Here is our study guide for today (And this exact devotion is available at http://theuniversityoftheweb.blogspot.com) Feel free to visit our sponsors listed under ADS.

Monday: Read the passages from Sunday again. In the version provided on the reverse side (The Message) Paul says, “keep your eye on what you’re doing.” Discipline is that which allows us to do just that. Do your daily disciplines help you keep your eye on what you’re doing or should be doing as Christ’s disciple? What SHOULD you be doing?

Here is that passage from yesterday:

2 Timothy 4:1 I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, 2 so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple. 3 You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food - catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. 4 They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. 5 But you - keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant. 6 You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. 7 This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. 8 All that’s left now is the shouting - God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming. (The Message)

The above passage is Paul urging the young Timothy to keep on keeping on with what the Lord had shared with him. Paul knew his days on earth were limited and so he urged Timothy to do the work Paul had started. "Proclsim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple." This version of the Bible does share this thought in a bit more intense way, which I believe Paul was wanting. Paul's caution was for Timothy to stay a disciple even when others might be falling away for whatever reason. Yesterday for our stewardship moment prior to the offering I shared a story Nellie read to me from Istanban, Turkey, about some shepherds who decided to have lunch together at the same time leaving their flocks alone. The herd was on some cliffs and one lamb decided to go over the cliff and then another and another, soon 450 sheep fell to their death. I stressed that we have The Good Shepherd watching over us and if we stick with Him we won't be falling off any cliffs. Paul knew that "follow the leader" is a "side street" played out in church sometimes. Whatever little reason that may come up is enough to guide some sheep astray. Paul urges Timothy as he does us, to stay with Jesus. Discipline is that which allows us to do just that.

PRAYER: God of eternal strength, bless us as we seek to walk with you. Let us find in You that which gives us the motivation to walk with you. Let us be more the persons of prayer, scripture reading, worship, giving, service, and evangelsim, as you've called us to be. Give us wisdom to know how, when and where, to share these "marks" that are ours as your disciples. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

Our Team at the San Antonio Airport

This is a photo taken early the morning of July 7, 2005 (Thursday) of our team prior to their boarding their flight. They're on their way to Atlanta, then from Atlanta to Johannesburg; a total of some 22 hours. Once they land they take a church van for seven (7) hours to reach our hospital. Please sign up to pray for our team. You can email billcude@centurytel.net or ebrown@redneck.com and they'll be glad to sign you up.

We had a wonderful Holy Spirit-led candlelight service last night as we said our goodbyes and prayers for a successful mission.

e.v.

PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN MOZAMBIQUE

A COMMITMENT CHECKLIST

Good day dear friends. We praise God for last night's Candlelight Service/Sendoff for our Mozambique team. It was a very moving service, guided by the Lord. Our thanks to Pastor Leslie for the fine sermon she shared with our group.

We continue to study what the marks of a disciple are, especially the starting one of commitment. In today's study guide we'll study a passage from Paul about what a disciple should be aiming for.

Here is the study guide:

Thursday: Read 1 Timothy 6:11-16. What is the charge from Paul to the reader? Where should we be “aiming” in our life? Use the checklist Paul has there as a checklist for your life. Where do you come up short? Where are changes needed?

Here is that passage in NRSV:

11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

It would be good for us to understand in the verses leading up to verse eleven, Paul was addressing the pursuits of some folks, especially those who want to be rich. It was in verse 10 immediately before our passage for today that we find the famous, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains." Money is not evil in and of itself, but it is the "love of money."

Paul holds up those eternal things that cannot be taken away from those who pursue them: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. This is quite a checklist. Instead of finding the right product or opportunity to make you rich, be rich in righteousness. Instead of seeking gold, seek godliness. Want fame? How about faith? Need to be loved, start loving others. Feel like giving up? Pauls says, seek endurance. Tired of people getting the best of you? Paul says, try gentleness. (Read today's Upper Room devotional: www.upperroom.org/devotional).

The list continues as Pauls says we should hold on to eternal life. In other words live your life in a way that says you believe beyond what you can see; your faith is in He who gives life beyond this life. Again, our commitment should be with Jesus Christ who called us into discipleship.

PRAYER: Giver of life, give to us a newer and deeper understanding of all that is ours through faith. Help in our commitment to grow closer to You and to each other. Keep us mindful of that which we should be sharing with others. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES!

2:14
That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight.
2:15
These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk - it's only nine o'clock in the morning.
2:16
This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
2:17
"In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.
2:18
When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy.
2:19
I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
2:20
the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous;
2:21
And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved."
2:22
"Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you - the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge -
2:23
this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him.
2:24
But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him.
2:25
David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side.
2:26
I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope.
2:27
I know you'll never dump me in Hades; I'll never even smell the stench of death.
2:28
You've got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around.
2:29
"Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried - his tomb is in plain sight today.
2:30
But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom,
2:31
seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah - 'no trip to Hades, no stench of death.'
2:32
This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it.
2:33
Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear.
2:34
For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say, God said to my Master, "Sit at my right hand
2:35
Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet."
2:36
"All Israel, then, know this: There's no longer room for doubt - God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross."
2:37
Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"
2:38
Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39
The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away - whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."
2:40
He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"
2:41
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up.
2:42
They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
2:43
Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!
2:44
And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.
2:45
They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
2:46
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,
2:47
as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

COMMITMENT: THE MARK OF A DISCIPLE

Good day dear friends. Happy Fourth of July to everyone!

We started a new sermon series yesterday called "The Marks of A Disciple" with "Commitment" being the first of those marks. Our passages were from Luke 9 and Luke 14. We focused mostly on Luke 9:57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

With thanks to Bill Nicolas and Glen Rydl, we had two antique plows for both settings of our three services. Bill's plow lacks the wooden handles, but folks at 8:30 got the idea including a woman who shared that her daddy had been a farmer and remembered using such a plow with words that could not be shared in the church! At 10:30, Glen's plow was very effective and the service ended right on time so I was able to have that plow shared with the 11 o'clock service as well.

Participants at all three worship services (with our apologies to the folks in the balcony at 11!) received the first of ten gifts that will help us during this sermon series. The "line of no return" was given out and next week we'll add to it.

Once a person makes a commitment to God there should be no turning back, no going back, no thinking of what could have been. The Christian journey is a straight ahead journey forward!

Here is our study guide for today: Monday: Read the passages from Sunday again. Read now the story of King David and his friend Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:1-30. What was the level of commitment involved in this friendship? Jonathan stood to gain the throne of Israel yet it was given to his best friend instead. How would that have made you feel?

Here are the first verses of that passage:

18:1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

This story is a most unusual one. The king of Israel was King Saul. His hope was that his firstborn son, Jonathan should become king. If you know the story you know that was not to be. Jonathan was also aware of that, yet in spite of that and his father's hatred for the boy David, who was anointed to be the next king, Jonathan committed to love and serve David. That was a full-blown commitment! Jonathan was risking loss of his relationship with his dad and possibly even loss of his life for this friendship with David. What a commitment.

Even today many parents would not want to see someone else's child step in to claim what should legally/logically be your child's. Many would go to many lengths to ensure that one's child would get what was his/her's. And can you imagine the parent's reaction to finding out that the child is now best friends with the child who is to get that which should be yours?

In our walk as a disciple we keep in mind the importance of staying committed to God. It's never easy, but it is the start of a journey that pays great benefits and blessings if we keep moving ahead, never looking back to what could have been or what we may be losing. The plow was the perfect prop for we could see that only one who set his hand and head to the work being done for the glory of God, gets 'er done! The one who thinks, "I could be doing this or that if I hadn't committed to doing this for the church," usually gets little if anything done.

PRAYER: God of the full journey, let us set our eyes and hearts on You. Let us journey ever forward, ever committed to doing that which has been shared with us as our duty and joy. Make us mindful we should not look behind but ahead to what will be. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great, blessed, and safe fourth!

e.v.